The Rev. Richard Lavigne becomes Richard Lavigne

SPRINGFIELD (MA)
Springfield Union-News

Editorial

A decade ago, long before anyone realized the horrific dimensions of the sexual-abuse crisis within the Roman Catholic Church, the Rev. Richard R. Lavigne admitted that he had molested two boys.

The former pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Shelburne Falls escaped jail time and prosecution on other sex charges in exchange for his plea.

In denouncing Lavigne’s acts, Judge Guy Volterra said at the time, “One offending priest is one too many. As he stands here today, he is a priest in the Diocese of Springfield. What is important is that when he committed these offenses he was an authority figure. It is a fact that he used his power as an authority figure in committing the offenses.”